The initial briefs on the data and estimates show that the poverty rate in the United States increase to 15.9% percent of the U.S. population in 2011. This represents a 0.6% increase in poverty from 2010. As for North Carolina, the poverty rate increase to 17.9%, but the recorded change was statistically insignificant.

While an increase in poverty is bad news for America’s recovering economy, the report did have a silver lining. The majority of states were like North Carolina and did not experience statistically significant changes in their poverty level. This did not occur in the 2010-2009 study or the 2009-2008 study.

Additionally, the nation at large only experienced a 0.6% increase from 2010 to 2011. This represents a significant decrease from the full percentage point increases that the U.S. sustained between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

When you analyze the information in this light, it seems that the U.S. is on a trend towards recovery. While more people are still finding themselves living in poverty each year, this number is starting to decrease and show signs of a recovering economy. Hopefully groups will be able to look at this information and start to identify those programs that are helping keep American families out of poverty.